Case for surgical instruments



(No model.) E LEE CASE FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS.

N0. 570,936. Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ELMER LEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASE FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,936, dated November 10, 1896. Application filed August 12,1895. Serial No. 559,002. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ELMER LEE, of Chicago,

Illinois, have invented certain new and usewith all of the appliances before mentioned.

upturned ends.

f ul Improvements in Hypodermic Syringe and Tablet Cases, of which the followingisaspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide for the use of physicians and surgeons a convenient and economical case for carrying a hypodermic syringe, hypodermic tablets, fever-thermometer, and other small articles which are convenient or necessary to be carried in the pocket, so as to be ready for emergency uses, and from which a supply can be taken to be left with the patient.

In the construction the main idea has been to make the device of such size, shape, and weight that it may be conveniently carried in the upper vest pocket and of such materials that it will be very light even when filled The case with these requirements is adapted to contain a larger number of remedies than has heretofore been usually carried in connection with a hypodermic syringe.

In carrying out my invention I construct the case with a base of sheet metal, preferably aluminium, although celluloid, hard rubber, or other suitable strong, light material could be employed. This sheet of metal preferably has its ends upturned, so as to provide stops to prevent the instrument, containers, and bottles working off endwise, and the sides of the sheet are also preferably crimped or turned over, so as to obviate sharp edges and increase the strength transversely of the sheet. Arranged transversely across the face of the sheet is a strip of metal dividing the face into two compartments, formed by the Across the compartments are arranged, transversely, rows of supports, preferably in the form of pins, which, if the sheet be made of metal, may also be of metal wire; but if the sheet be of celluloid the pins might be of like material and integral with the back. The spaces between the pins are adapted to receive a syringe, a container for the needles,and .a series of bottles or containers for the tablets. The various articles above mentioned are loosely placed between the pins within the compartments, and preferably parallel to the longer sides of the sheet or case. In order to hold them in their place, I preferably use small rubber bands passed around the plate and resting on the tops of the containers, bottles, and instruments. The case as thus constructed may be inclosed in a leather cover or envelop, opening at the side, and serving to protect, to some extent, the

- glass bottles and also to protect the pocket.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the case and its contents, showing the rubber bands. Fig. 2 is an edgeview of the case, the contents and bands removed. Fig. 3 is an edge View of the outer leather covering or case, showing a pocket-therein.

In the drawings, A represents a metal plate, preferably of aluminium, and provided with the upturned ends a a and with the beaded or crimped margins at.

B represents a rib or partition secured to the base centrally and transversely thereof, and which may be a narrow strip of metal folded into angle form and riveted or soldered to the base-plate. The plate is thus divided into two compartments of equal length, although of course the whole device might be shortened, so as to provide onlya single compartment, or it might be lengthened, so as to provide more than two compartments.

0 represents a series of pins arranged in rows transversely of the plate and secured thereto. A convenient way of doingthis is to perforate the base-plate and insert small pins formed of round wire, which may be then slightly headed over, so as to hold them in place, or they may be threaded, rivet-ed, soldered, or otherwise secured in place. Each compartment is by means of these pins divided into a series of longitudinal pockets to receive bottles D, containing tablets, glass containers E for containing needles F, and a syringe G. The partition B does not extend entirely across the base-plate, and thereby is provided a longer space to receive a feverthermometer II, and in order to permit this thermometer to be slipped out for use one of the upturned ends a is cut away, as shown at c.

In order to hold the several parts in their proper position, I employ small rubber bands I, stretched around the case and passing over the several articles contained within the pockets of the case. Space is thus provided in this simple case (the full size of which is shown in the drawings) for containing a syringe with its needles, a thermometer, and fourteen tablet-bottles, and the Whole device, when constructed as above described and filled, only Weighs between two and three ounces.

The device is exceedingly compact in contradistinction to the bulky and inconvenient hypodermic case in ordinary use, audit possesses the advantage of presenting all of its contents for ready selection, and, While holding them securely, enables them to be withdrawn quickly, as is often necessary. All of the parts of the case are constructed of cleanable material, and the device is therefore aseptic.

To protect the pocket and also to protect the contents of the case, I prefer to employ a suitable leather covering, (shown in edge View in Fig. 3 and marked J in Which may be provided an interior pocket K for containing other articles, such as needles, silk, &c., use-' ful or necessary in cases of emergency.

My invention furnishes to the physician or surgeon a new, convenient, compact, and economical case, containing not only the necessary instruments, but a larger number of accessories than have heretofore been provided with a hypodermic syringe, thus enabling a Wider selection of remedies and providing a quantity from which the physician may draw for the use of the patient.

It Will be observed that my improved case is readily removable from the leather covering, thus rendering its contents more easily accessible and enabling the whole device to be refilled or cleansed Without the inconvenience of having suchleather covering attached thereto.

I claim v A pocket-case of the class described constructed from a single thin sheet of metal having its ends upturned, its side margins beaded and provided with a transverse partition dividing it into compartments, and rows of pins fixed in the sheet and extending transversely thereof and providing spaces longitudinally of the sheet to receive articles, substantially as and for the purpose described.

ELMER LEE. \Vitnesses:

FREDERICK O. GooDWIN, N. M. BOND. 

